Barrier Operator Feature Enhancement

ABSTRACT

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/881,406, filed Jan. 26, 2018, entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATUREENHANCEMENT, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/587,786, filed May 5, 2017, entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATUREENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,896,877, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/069,351, filed Mar. 14, 2016,entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATURE ENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.9,644,416, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/858,497, filed Sep. 18, 2015, entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATUREENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,376,851, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/010,143, filed Aug. 26, 2013,entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATURE ENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.9,141,099, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/671,602, filed Nov. 8, 2012, entitled BARRIER OPERATOR FEATUREENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,122,254. All of U.S. patent applicationSer. Nos. 15/881,406, 15/587,786, 15/069,351, 14/858,497, 14/010,143 and13/671,602 are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to barrier operators and morespecifically to adding features to pre-installed barrier operators.

BACKGROUND

Barrier operators of various kinds have been known and used for manyyears. Examples of such barrier operators include gate operators,rolling shutter operators, garage door operators, and the like. In oneexample, garage door operators are mounted within a garage to automatethe process of opening and closing a garage door. Such garage dooroperators are designed to last for many years. In its simplest form, agarage door operator includes a motor connected to move a barrierbetween an open position and a closed position and control circuitryconfigured to control the motor. Such garage door operators can last andreliably operate a garage door for many years with basic maintenance.

More recently, however, barrier operators have begun evolving to includeadditional features beyond the simple task of opening and closing thebarrier. Such new features include various safety features, lightingoptions, network communication options including remote operation of thebarrier operator, and the like. To have access to such features,however, typically a completely new barrier operator with a new motorand connection equipment must be purchased and installed for a user tohave access to the new features. This contradicts the reality wherebarrier operators are generally designed to perform their core functionof opening and closing a barrier for many years.

SUMMARY

Generally speaking, and pursuant to these various embodiments, a barrieroperator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or morefeatures found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporatethose features into a previously installed barrier operator system. Tofacilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement deviceis designed to be able to communicate with a large variety of oldermodel barrier operator systems. Such communication may be wireless orwired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by aparticular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the easeof installation of the feature enhancement device, the device isdesigned to, in one approach, step through a variety of communicationprotocols and to receive feedback information from either the barrieroperator or another device to indicate that the previously installedbarrier operator performed an action in response to receipt of acommunication from the feature enhancement device. Based on thatfeedback, the feature enhancement device configures itself to operategoing forward with the communication protocol that elicited the responsefrom the previously installed barrier operator.

Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installedbarrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrieroperator to provide one or more additional features to enhance thecapabilities of the previously installed barrier operator. Examplesinclude adding safety features such as the use of obstacle detectors,adding remote communication and network based communication features,enabling timer based open and close features, enabling vehicle andperson detection features, and the like. These and other benefits maybecome clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of thebarrier operator feature enhancement described in the following detaileddescription, particularly, when studied in conjunction with the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a perspective view of an example environment in which abarrier operator feature enhancement device may be applied as configuredin accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a block diagram of an example barrier operator featureenhancement device as configured in accordance with various embodimentsof the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a schematic diagram of a building having variousdevices that may communicate with a barrier operator feature enhancementdevice as configured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 4 comprises a flow diagram of an example method of operation for abarrier operator feature enhancement device as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 comprises a perspective view of an example environment in which abarrier operator feature enhancement device may be applied as configuredin accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 6 comprises a perspective view of an example environment in which abarrier operator feature enhancement device may be applied as configuredin accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate the elements and the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioningof some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative toother elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments.Also, common but well understood elements that are useful or necessaryin a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted tofacilitate a less obstructive view of these various embodiments. It willfurther be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may bedescribed or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while thoseskilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect tosequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that theterms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning asis accorded to such terms and expressions and a person skilled in thetechnical field as set forth above, except where different specificmeanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1, an exampleenvironment in which a barrier operator feature enhancement device mayoperate will now be presented. A previously installed barrier operator100 is configured to move a barrier 105 between open and closedpositions. In the illustrated example, the barrier operator is a garagedoor opener configured to open and close a garage door for a typicalgarage although the subject matter described herein can be applied to avariety of other barrier operator settings. The barrier operator 100 canbe activated to open or close the barrier 105 using a remote controldevice 110 or a wired wall control 115. The remote control device 110communicates directly with the barrier operator 100 using a radiofrequency based, wireless communication that is received and analyzed bythe barrier operator 100 to determine what action it should take inresponse to receipt of the signal from the remote control device 110.Similarly, the wall control device 115 includes buttons that whenpressed effect sending a signal over the wire to the barrier operator100 to effect the opening or closing of the barrier 105 or performanceof another action. A barrier operator feature enhancement device 120 canbe introduced into this space to add additional features to the barrieroperator system present within this particular garage.

With reference to FIG. 2, an example barrier operator featureenhancement device 120 will be described. This apparatus includes abarrier operator communication module 125 that is configured to be ableto communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types by sendingcommunication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols. Tofacilitate this ability, the barrier operator communication module 125includes an antenna 130 that may be built-in or external to the device120. The communication module 125 may also include a wired communicationport 135 configured to be connected through one or more wires to abarrier operator. The feature enhancement device 120 also includescontrol circuitry 140 configured to use the barrier operatorcommunication module 125 to communicate with any of the plurality ofbarrier operator types. So configured, the barrier operator featureenhancement device readily facilitates installation and coordinationwith a variety of previously installed barrier operator types. Forexample, the barrier operator feature enhancement device is configuredto communicate with all or a subset of all barrier operators currentlyinstalled. Thus, a user who purchases a barrier operator featureenhancement device can be reasonably assured that the enhancement deviceis compatible with the user's particular previously installed barrieroperator.

One approach for configuring communication between the barrier operatorfeature enhancement device 120 and the previously installed barrieroperator 100 includes the control circuitry 140 being configured toeffect sending communication signals from the barrier operatorcommunication module 125 via a plurality of communication protocols tothe pre-installed barrier operator 100. For example, the barrieroperator communication module 125 can be configured to be able tocommunicate with the plurality of barrier operator types by sendingcommunication signals by one or more of wire-line relay switchactivation, wire-line serial communications, wire-line encrypted serialcommunications, a first wireless transmission protocol based on ahand-held transmitter frequency, a second wireless transmission protocoldifferent from the first wireless transmission protocol, radio frequencycommunications based on a frequency different from hand-held transmitterfrequencies, radio frequency communications based on frequency hoppingfor spread spectrum, to name but a few, and combinations thereof.Generally speaking, as used in this application, a “hand-heldtransmitter” refers to a typical garage door controller that, forinstance, clips to a vehicle visor and has a button that a user pressesto open and close a garage door.

By one approach, the control circuitry 140 can wait for a time aftersending a communication signal to the pre-installed barrier operator 100to receive a communication indicating a response from the pre-installedbarrier operator 100 before sending another communication signal using adifferent protocol. The communication indicating the response from thepre-installed barrier operator can be received in a number of ways. Forexample, the receipt may occur through an input/output module 145 thatwill be described below. Examples signals include ones from a doorsensor or limit sensor indicating door movement. In response toreceiving the communication indicating the response from thepre-installed barrier operator, the control circuitry 140 configures thebarrier operator communication module 125 to operate according to thecommunication protocol that effected the response from the pre-installedbarrier operator 100. By this example approach, the barrier operatorfeature enhancement device 120 can configure itself or learn thecommunication protocol with which it can communicate with thepre-installed barrier operator 100 with minimal intervention or efforton behalf of the device's user.

By another approach, the control circuitry 140 may be configured tolearn the communication protocol for the pre-installed barrier operator100 by analyzing a signal received by the barrier operator featureenhancement device 120 from a peripheral device. In one such approach,the control circuitry 140 is configured to analyze a signal received atthe input/output module 145 from a peripheral device comprising ahand-held transmitter 110 associated with the pre-installed barrieroperator 100 to determine a communication protocol associated with thepre-installed barrier operator 100. For example, the control circuitry140 can break down the radio frequency communication sent by thehand-held transmitter 110 to determine its characteristics and thenadopt those characteristics for the barrier operator communicationmodule 125. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,057,494 and 7,741,951, incorporated hereinby reference, describe example approaches currently known to thoseskilled in the art for learning a transmission protocol. Accordingly,this control circuitry 140 can configure the barrier operatorcommunication module 125 to operate according to the communicationprotocol associated with the pre-installed barrier operator 100.

In still another approach, the barrier operator feature enhancementdevice 120 can include a user interface 150. For example, the controlcircuitry 140 configures the barrier operator communications module 125to operate according to a communication protocol in response to receiptof an instruction signal through the user interface 150. In one suchapproach, a list of barrier operator types can be provided to a userthrough the user interface 150 or through separate documentation thatwill allow the user to use the user interface 150 to input the barrieroperator type to the feature enhancement device 120. In response toreceipt of this feedback from the user interface 150, the controlcircuitry 140 can access a memory or other storage such as an onlinedatabase that will associate a communication protocol with the barrieroperator type information received through the user interface 150. Thecontrol circuitry 140 will then configure the barrier operatorcommunication module 125 to operate in accordance with thatcommunication protocol. In a further aspect, a similar user interfacecan be provided on other device remote from the feature enhancementdevice 120. For instance, a mobile device or other computer can beprogrammed, run an application, or receive signals from another deviceto effect display of a user interface that allows a user to interactwith the feature enhancement device 120.

Once the communication protocol for the previously installed barrieroperator 100 is determined, the control circuitry 140 is configured touse the barrier operator communication module 125 to communicate to atleast one pre-installed barrier operator 100 to effect at least one ofcontrol of operation of at least one feature of the at least onepre-installed barrier operator 100 or monitoring at least one aspect ofthe at least one pre-installed barrier operator 100. Control of theoperation of a feature of a pre-installed barrier operator 100 caninclude moving a barrier 105, stopping or overriding a function of thepre-installed movable barrier operator 100, operating another functionof a pre-installed movable barrier 100 such as operating a light,controlling a vacation mode, and the like, or changing an operationparameter such as a force setting or programmed operation mode of apre-installed barrier operator 100 to name but a few examples. Generallyspeaking, sending a communication to a pre-installed barrier operator100 to control operation can be considered effecting a change infunction of the barrier operator 100. Monitoring an aspect of apre-installed barrier operator includes monitoring a barrier 105 status(such as open or closed) and watching other operation statuses of theoperator 100 including error conditions, tamper warnings, and usagehistory to name only a few examples. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thefeature enhancement device 120 can be deployed in a garage or othersetting where more than one pre-installed barrier operator 100 is inuse. In such a setting, the feature enhancement device 120 can beconfigured to operate with one, both, or in other installations, severalor a subset of a group of previously installed barrier operators. In anexample multiple barrier installation, the feature enhancement devicecan communicate with peripheral devices for a variety of barriers bystoring identification information that is sent from individualperipheral devices together with communication signals to the featureenhancement device. So paired, the feature enhancement device canaccurately monitor and control each of the multiple barriers with whichit is paired.

Moreover, the communication to be had with any one pre-installed barrieroperator 100 depends upon the capabilities of that operator 100. Forinstance, older operators generally only communicated through receipt ofa signal that causes immediate operation of the motor to open or closethe barrier 105. In such a situation, the feature enhancement device 120will merely send signals to effect such operation and rely on otherperipheral devices to facilitate monitoring of other aspects of thebarrier operator such as door position and obstacle detection. Otheroperators have the ability to send information out regarding its status.For example, some operators are able to determine barrier position,force settings, light settings, and the like and provide thisinformation to other devices. For those operators, the featureenhancement device 120 is configured to be able to send signals to suchan operator to effect the operator 100 sending back such statusinformation in a manner that the feature enhancement device 120 canunderstand the information and use the information to provide enhancedfeature control for a user including, for example, automatically sendingcontrol signals to change a function of the barrier operator 100 inresponse to receiving particular status information from the operator100.

Turning again to FIG. 2, the input/output module 145 is operatively incommunication with the control circuitry 140. The input/output module145 is configured to receive communications from at least one peripheraldevice configured to provide at least one of information regarding anoperation status of the pre-installed barrier operator 100 orinformation to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator100. These communications can be performed by a number of differentphysical layer structures. In one example, the communication can becarried via a wired or bus connection or via a wireless radiocommunication. The wireless communication can follow any protocolincluding single frequency, spread spectrum, Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH, and thelike. Generally speaking, the input/output module 145 is designed toprovide for communications with any of a variety of devices other thanthe barrier operator 100. So configured, the input/output module 145 canfacilitate many types of interactions with other devices, examples ofwhich will be disclosed below.

Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand that such amodule 145 and operator communication module 125 may be comprised of aplurality of physically distinct elements as is suggested by theillustration shown in FIG. 2. It is also possible, however, to view thisillustration as comprising a logical view, in which case one or more ofthese elements can be enabled and realized via a shared platform suchthat the operations described as being separate at the operatorcommunication module 125 and the input/output module 145 are performedby the same physical elements. It will also be understood that such ashared platform may comprise a wholly or at least partially programmableplatform as are known in the art. Moreover, the interfaces for thefeature enhancement device 120 for the peripheral devices may includedifferent physical implementations to effect such communication, such aswith wireless or wired obstacle detectors, with a wired or wireless wallcontroller, with a wireless or radio communication device, or withanother device. Such communication hardware configured to communicatewith the individual peripheral devices are generally known andapplicable by those of skill in the art and need no further discussionherein.

For example and with reference to FIG. 1, such peripheral devices withwhich the input/output module 145 communicates may include a computingdevice 200, a home computer 205, a server computing device 210, a mobilecomputing device 215, a gateway device 220 configured to enablecommunications with one or more of a home computer 205, server computingdevice 210, a mobile computing device 225, or a mobile computing device230 over a network 235, and combinations thereof. Communications withany of these devices can be made using wired or wireless protocols asare known in the art. Communications with such computing devices canfacilitate all manner of network communications such as communicationswith applications on smart phones and the like or facility monitoringsystems as may be available or controlled by networked computingdevices.

Other than just computing devices, the peripheral device from which theinput/output module 145 can be configured to receive communications mayalso include one or more of an obstacle detector 155, a network adaptor240, a separate barrier operator 102, a hand-held transmitter 110, awall control 115, a door position sensor 160, to name but a few, andcombinations thereof. Communications with such devices allow the featureenhancement device 120 to provide features such as automatic barriercontrol in response to obstacle detection through which the featureenhancement device 120 can stop operation of a pre-installed barrieroperator 100. In one such example, the obstacle detector 155 isconnected to the feature enhancement device 120. If the featureenhancement device 120 receives a communication from the obstacledetector 155 that an obstacle has been detected and the featureenhancement device 120 knows that the barrier operator 100 is closingthe barrier, the feature enhancement device 120 can communicate with thebarrier operator 100 to stop the barrier and potentially send thebarrier in the opening direction.

The feature enhancement device 120 can perform barrier positiondetermination through communication with such peripheral devices to beable to determine and report out barrier 105 position among otherpossibilities or features that can be provided. The positiondetermination peripheral device 160, 170 allows the feature enhancementdevice 120 to determine whether or not the barrier 105 is closed and toreport to a remote user the position of the barrier 105 prior toactivation of the movable barrier operator. Example positiondetermination devices include limit switches 170, door monitors, tiltswitches 160, and the like. The position determination peripheral device160, 170 could be a transmit only device that transmits positioninformation in response to any change of the position of the barrier105. In an alternative approach, the position determination peripheraldevice 160, 170 could be a bidirectional communication device allowingthe feature enhancement device 122 to request information about theposition of the barrier 105.

In still another approach, the input/output module 145 is configured toreceive communications from at least one peripheral device including asending device where the communications include an identification signalindicating that the sending device is available for communication withthe input/output module 145. In this example, the sending device may beany peripheral device described above that can have communications witha feature enhancement device 120 and facilitate installation andconfiguration of these peripheral or sending devices with the featureenhancement device 120. In one example, a sending device may include abutton or other user interactive element that can be actuated by a userthat will effect sending a signal that, on receipt by the featureenhancement device 120, indicates to the feature enhancement device 120that the sending device is ready and able to be used by or communicatewith the feature enhancement device 120. As yet another example, thesending device can be a device used for notification of imminent barriermotion. In this approach, the feature enhancement device 120 can bedesigned such that it requires the detection of the sending device priorto allowing at least a particular barrier motion.

In another example, the input/output module 145 can receive wirelesslocal area network communications with one or more of the peripheraldevices. Based on these communications from the wireless local areanetwork, the control circuitry 140 is configured to decide which radiofrequency communication format is sent to the pre-installed barrieroperator 100. The wireless local area network devices may communicateusing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other wireless based communicationbetween or among peripheral devices located in the vicinity of thefeature enhance device 120. In one example, the control circuitry 140may recognize a communication style or command sent to or from thepre-installed barrier operator 100 via the wireless local area networkand configure the operator communication module 125 accordingly. Inanother example, the control circuitry 140 may receive a communicationover the wireless local area network with information identifying thepre-installed barrier operator 100 or its communication method. In onesuch example, a user may look up the pre-installed barrier operator 100on a computing device 215 and send that information regarding theoperator 100 to the feature enhancement device 120 using, for example,the wireless local area network.

In another example, the input/output module 145 is configured to receivethe communications from at least one peripheral device comprising anobstacle detector 155, as shown in FIG. 1. Such a configuration incombination with the feature enhancement device 120 communication withthe pre-installed barrier operator 100 allows the feature enhancementdevice 120 to add obstacle detection features to a pre-installed barrieroperator 100 incapable of incorporating such features. For example, thecontrol circuitry 140 can be configured to not send a signal to effectclosing the barrier 105 by the pre-installed barrier operator 100 inresponse to receiving any one of a variety of signals from the obstacledetector 155 that it would be unsafe to close the barrier 105. Forexample, the control circuitry 140 is configured not to send a signal toeffect closing the barrier 105 in response to receiving a command to doso when detecting that the obstacle detector 155 is unable to detect anobstacle. This may occur where the obstacle detector 155 is an opticaldetector that is not properly aligned or otherwise rendered incapable ofperforming its task of detecting an obstacle and thus being unable towarn against operation if an obstacle is present. In another approach,the control circuitry 140 will not send a signal to effect closing thebarrier 105 in response to receiving an indication from the input/outputmodule 145 that the obstacle detector 155 detected an obstacle or inresponse to receiving indication that the pre-installed barrier operator100 is opening the barrier 105. In still another approach, the controlcircuitry 140 may be configured to send a signal to effect opening abarrier 105 by the pre-installed barrier operator 100 in response todetecting that the obstacle detector 155 is unable to detect an obstacleor in response to receiving indication from the input/output module 145that the obstacle detector 155 detected an obstacle. Similarly, inresponse to receiving an indication from a peripheral device that thepre-installed barrier operator 100 is closing a barrier 105 such as froma barrier position sensor 160 or the like, the control circuitry 140 isconfigured to send a signal to effect opening the barrier 105 by thepre-installed barrier operator 100 in response to detecting that theobstacle detector 155 is unable to detect an obstacle or in response toreceiving an indication from the input/output module 145 that theobstacle detector 155 detected an obstacle. So configured, a variety ofthe advantages to having an obstacle detector can be added topre-installed barrier operator 100 that is otherwise incapable of usingsuch obstacle detector technology.

In another specific example, the input/output module 145 can beconfigured to receive communications from at least one peripheral deviceincluding a sensor 160 disposed to detect a location of a barrier 105operated by the pre-installed barrier operator 100. The sensor 160 isillustrated as a tilt sensor, although any of a variety of other sensorsmay be used such as a limit switch, an accelerometer, a gravity sensor,or combinations thereof. Limit switches can be magnetic or physicalswitches placed along a track or other path of travel for the barrier105 to detect the location of the barrier 105. A tilt sensor maycomprise a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch, an optical sensor, orother physical switch that is mounted to detect the barrier's 105orientation. For example, the tilt sensor 160 as known in the art ismounted on the barrier 105 to determine the barrier 105's vertical orhorizontal orientation and based on that information, a determinationcan be made as to whether the door is open, i.e., the barrier ishorizontally disposed, or closed, i.e., the barrier is verticallydisposed. An accelerometer may be piezo electric based or MEMS switch asknown in the art. In still another approach, the input/output module 145can be configured to receive communications from at least one peripheraldevice including a hand-held transmitter 110 configured to send barriercommands via a radio frequency transmission to the input/output module145.

In yet another approach, the input/output module 145 is configured toreceive communications from at least one peripheral device including anetwork adapter 240 to effect a connection to the Internet. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the network adapter 240 is a separate deviceplugged into the wall that can communicate with the input/output module145 with the feature enhancement device 120 using any availablecommunication method. The network adapter 240 then has a separateconnection to a network that facilitates a communication to theInternet. This communication or connection can be accomplished in avariety of ways as recognized by those skilled in the art. For example,the network adapter 240 may have a wireless connection to a cellularstandard to facilitate the connection to the Internet. By anotherapproach, the network adaptor 240 can incorporate a power linecommunication protocol whereby communications are transmitted over localpower lines between devices connected to the power lines. In stillanother approach, the network adaptor 240 can create a networkconnection via an Ethernet wire line connection to a network device.Another example network adapter 240 connection approach is a Wi-Ficonnection such as with the wireless device 220. The network adaptor 240in various approaches can plug into the feature enhancement device 120to provide such communication abilities or be built into the device aspart of the input/output module 145. For instance, in this example, theinput/output module 145 can communicate using a wireless communicationstandard such as Wi-Fi to exchange network communications with thenetwork device 220.

In any event, the input/output module 145 is configured to sendcommunications to and receive communications from devices over theInternet. Such communications may include receiving commands to operatethe pre-installed barrier operator 100 from a device over the Internetor to send status information regarding the pre-installed barrieroperator 100 to a device over the Internet. So configured, the featureenhancement device 120 can allow a user to use a mobile computing device230 that is located remote from the pre-installed barrier operator 100to operate the barrier operator 100 or to simply receive informationregarding whether the barrier is open or closed, for example, or whethera particular vehicle is in the garage.

For example, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the barrier operatorfeature enhancement device 120 may include a presence detector 170configured to detect presence of a vehicle 175 and is in operablecommunication with the control circuitry 140. Presence detectors 170 caninclude passive infrared detectors, a photo beam system, a magneticdetector, a capacitance detector, sound detector, a camera with imageanalysis algorithms, or a communication system designed to detectidentification information from a vehicle 175, or cell phone of the userfrom the radio communications such as Bluetooth, each of which is knownin the art and needs no further description here. Examples include U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,221,289 and 7,994,896, each of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety herein. As an example a magnetic detectionperipheral device can be mounted just below the preinstalled operator100. When the vehicle is present it affect the magnetic field generatedby the detector in such a way that the detector device can determinewhether the vehicle is positioned below is or not. In turn, the controlcircuitry 140 is configured to effect communication with one or more ofthe peripheral devices in response to an initial detection of thevehicle 175. As described above and is further illustrated in FIG. 3,the feature enhancement device 120 through its input/output module 145can be configured to communicate with any of a variety of other devices.Accordingly, the feature enhancement device 120 can effect changes inthe operation of a variety of those devices in response to detectingpresence or absence of a vehicle 175. For example, in response to aninitial detection of the vehicle 175 the control circuitry 140 caneffect a communication with a thermostat device 305 to effect a changein temperature setting for a climate control system 310 of a structureassociated with the barrier 105. Another example includes effectingcommunication with a lighting control device 315 to effect a change in alighting configuration such as lights for a home 320. For instance, inresponse to detecting an initial presence of a vehicle 175 driving intothe driveway or garage, the feature enhancement device 120 can effectlighting of certain rooms that the driver of the vehicle 175 will firstenter upon exiting the garage. Other lighting configurations are ofcourse possible. In another example, in response to initial detection ofthe vehicle, the control circuitry 140 can effect communication with acomputing device 330 to effect synchronization of data stored in thevehicle 175 at a data storage device 333 with data stored on thecomputing device 330. Such data can be any of a variety of things, suchas media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicle information(including operation statistics, maintenance needs, and the like), andcombinations thereof.

In still another example, in response to an initial detection of thevehicle 175, the control circuitry 140 can effect a communication with asecurity system 340 to effect a change in status of the security system340. For instance, detection of the vehicle 175 in the garage caninitiate a disarming of a home security system with respect to an entryfrom the garage into the house or other building or security structure.A similar approach can be applied to a commercial setting with respectto causing a change in a commercial security system in response todetecting presence of a particular vehicle.

In still another example, in response to an initial detection of thevehicle 175, control circuitry 140 can effect communication with thehome-based computing device 330 to effect sending a message to a user ofthe home-based computing device 330. One such message may simply be atext or similar message to someone else at the home indicating that avehicle has arrived in the garage. In still another example, in responseto an initial detection of the vehicle 175, control circuitry 140 caneffect a communication with a gateway communication device 350, such asa Wi-Fi router or home automation gateway device, or a directcommunication with one or more of the thermostat device 305, climatecontrol system 310, lighting controller 315, computing device 330,security system 340, and home-based computing device 330 as opposed tohaving direct communication in between the feature enhancement device120 and those various other devices. The communication can be any knowncommunication method including Z-wave, Zigbee, INSTEON, and X10 to namebut a few examples.

Similarly, the feature enhancement device 120 may also communicate withany of the above devices in response to an initial detection of theabsence of the vehicle 175. In this example, after the vehicle 175drives out of the garage, the presence detector 170 will notice that thecar 175 is no longer in the garage, and in response to the presencedetector 170 making that determination, the control circuitry 140 caneffect communication with any of the above devices to effect a change intheir status, as described above. For example, the thermostat device 305may be commanded to change a default temperature for the home while theoccupant is gone, the security system 340 may be armed while theoccupant is gone, the lighting controller device 315 may be set to turnthe lights off when the occupant is gone during the daytime, and amessage may be sent to a user using a computing device 330 that is stillin the house providing notice that the vehicle 175 has left the garage.

Another feature that can be added by the barrier operator featureenhancement device 120 is the ability to detect and respond to a forcedentry. In one such approach, in response to receiving from a peripheraldevice or from the pre-installed barrier operator 100 a communicationindicating an attempt at forced entry, the control circuitry 140 isconfigured to send a communication to another of the peripheral devicesto effect a security system response. For instance, a device 165 may beplaced on the door or rails that can sense when a person tries to forceopen the door 105 and responsively send a signal regarding this attemptto the feature enhancement device 120. This device 165 can detect theattempt to force open the door 105 by measuring sound, vibration, doormotion, and/or any other detection method as known in the art. Someknown barrier operators also have this ability to sense the forced entryand generate a signal that can be received by the feature enhancementdevice 120. In response to receiving such a signal, the featureenhancement device 120 can communicate with a security system 340 orotherwise sound an alarm such as flashing its light 180 or sounding analarm from its sound generator 185. Other examples include sending acommunication to a vehicle 175 to effect locking the vehicle 175, toeffect engagement of the vehicle's security system alarm, to effectdisablement of the vehicle's starting mechanism, and/or to effectflashing of the vehicle's lights. Another example includes sending acommunication to a computing device 330 to effect an announcement over alocal security system 340 or to effect blinking of lights 320 at anassociated structure, for example, in a home. In still another example,a communication may be sent to a network enabled device 220, 240 toeffect sending a communication to a mobile computing device 230regarding the attempted or forced entry such that a homeowner canreceive an alert on the homeowner's tablet or phone regarding theattempted or forced entry.

Another feature that may be enabled with the feature enhancement device120 having a presence detector 170 includes changing parameters of atimer to close function based on the presence or absence of the vehicle175. More specifically, the control circuitry 140 can be configured toeffect a timer to close function including sending a signal to thebarrier operator 100 to close the barrier 105 in response to the passageof time. The control circuitry 140 is also configured to, in response toreceiving a signal from the presence detector 170 indicating presence orabsence of the vehicle 175, change the parameters of the timer to closefunction. For example, the timer to close function may be inhibited bythe control circuitry 140 if the presence detector 170 senses thepresence of a vehicle 175. Similarly, the control circuitry 140 mayenable a timer to close feature in response to the detection by thepresence detector 170 that there are no vehicles left in the garage.

In still another approach, the presence detector 170 can be configuredto determine the presence or absence of a particular vehicle 175, suchthat various features can be enabled or disabled in response to thedetection of particular vehicles. More specifically, and in one example,the presence detector 170 can be configured to detect presence orabsence of a plurality of specific vehicles through detection of avehicle specific identifier received from individual ones of thespecific vehicles. For instance, a given vehicle may have a universalgarage door operator transmitter that is configured to send anidentification signal to the movable barrier operator either directly orthrough an intermediary device or network. The input/output module 145or presence detector 170 of the feature enhancement device 120 mayreceive that signal and decode the identification signal to identify thevehicle 175 and operate in accordance with pre-programming with respectto enabling or disabling certain features or actions in response to thepresence or absence of the specific vehicle 175. Other options fordetermining or receiving the vehicle's identification number includereceiving a Bluetooth communication from the vehicle, receiving acellular communication from the vehicle, receiving communications from aspecific user's mobile device through (such as though Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,mobile network communication, or the like) or by other means known tothose skilled in the art.

Turning again to FIG. 2, the feature enhancement device 120 may furtherinclude a light 180 and a sound generator 185. The control circuitry 140is configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator 185and flashing of the light 180 in coordination with sending a signal toeffect closing of the barrier 105 by the pre-installed barrier operator100. Typically in this situation where the barrier operator 100 receivesthe command to operate the barrier operator 100 from a device that isremote from the garage, flashing the light 180 and producing a soundfrom the sound generator or speaker 185 acts as a warning to those inthe vicinity of the garage that the barrier 105 will be closing. In oneexample, the control circuitry 140 is configured to disable generationof a sound by the sound generator 185 with flashing of the light 180 inresponse to determining that the pre-installed barrier operator 100includes a sound generator and light effect to provide an alertregarding closing of a barrier 105 by the pre-installed barrier operator100. This configuration allows the feature enhancement device 120 to notunnecessarily duplicate the effect as may be provided by thepre-installed barrier operator 100.

In accord with the structures described above, and with reference toFIG. 4, a method 400 of operation of a feature enhancement device 120,which can be considered a “retro-fit” device, will be described. Themethod includes sending 410 communication signals from a communicationmodule via a plurality of communication protocols to a pre-installedbarrier operator. The retro-fit device receives 415 a communicationindicating a response from the pre-installed barrier operator, and, inresponse, the retro-fit device configures 420 the communication moduleto operate according to a communication protocol that effected theresponse from the pre-installed barrier operator. Accordingly, theretro-fit device is now in a position to communicate with thepre-installed barrier operator to provide one or more additionalfeatures that may have been missing from the pre-installed barrieroperator.

For example, the retro-fit device may receive 425 information from aperipheral device and determine 430 an action or setting change for thepre-installed barrier operator based on the information from theperipheral device. After making that determination, the retro-fit devicesends 430 a communication signal according to the communication protocolto the pre-installed barrier operator. That communication signal isconfigured to effect the action or setting change to the pre-installedbarrier operator. As described above, the process of configuring thecommunication module to operate according to a particular communicationprotocol may include consideration or utilization of information fromone or more peripheral devices to help make the determination of whichprotocol to use in communicating with the pre-installed barrieroperator.

In an additional alternative embodiment, the functionality or logicdescribed with respect to FIG. 4 and elsewhere in this disclosure may beembodied in the form of code that may be executed in a separateprocessor circuit. If embodied in software, each block may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code that comprises program instructionsto implement the specified logical function(s). The program instructionsmay be embodied in the form of source code that comprises human-readablestatements written in a programming language or machine code thatcomprises numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable executionsystem such as a processor in a computer system or other system. Themachine code may be converted from the source code, etc. If embodied inhardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number ofinterconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s).Any of these structures are known to those of skill in the art and needsno further description.

The feature enhancement device 120 described in this application may bepackaged together with any of a variety of the peripheral devicesdescribed above to facilitate provision of features to pre-installedbarrier operators. For example, the feature enhancement device may besold together with obstacle detectors, a tilt sensor for mounting on thedoor, a remote control device, a network adapter, and the like. Such akit can then be purchased by a user and installed as described above toprovide enhanced operability to the barrier operator previouslyinstalled at the user's premises.

In one specific example, FIG. 5 illustrates one potential arrangement ofthe feature enhancement device 120. In this approach, the preinstalledoperator 100 is connected to the feature enhancement device 120 via wireconnections to the operator's command input 502 and to the operator'sobstruction input 504. Feature enhancement device 120 is also connectedvia wires 506 to the original wall control 500 that came with thepreinstalled operator 100. The handheld transmitter's 110 radiofrequency signal is received by the feature enhancement device 120 toactivate the preinstalled operator 100 via the feature enhancementdevice 120. The feature enhancement device 120 is also connected via awire 530 to a router/modem 520, which connects the system to theInternet in well-known method. In this way, the feature enhancementdevice 120 can allow activation of the barrier operator from theInternet, from the preinstalled operators wall control 500, and from thehandheld transmitter 110. Not shown is the possibility of utilizing thewireless capabilities of feature enhancement device 120 to communicatedirectly with a portable computational device. The communication can bedone by any of a number of possible communication formats includingBluetooth and Wi-Fi as examples. Due to the communications being routedthrough the feature enhancement device 120, the feature enhancementdevice 120 is able to control when and if command reaches thepreinstalled operator 100.

As explained earlier, the feature enhancement device 120 can have alight 180 and a sound generator 185. The light 180 and sound generator185 can be utilized to pre-warn before the command is sent to thepreinstalled barrier operator 100. For example, if the featureenhancement device 120 received a command to move or close the barrierover the Internet, the feature enhancement device 120 can turn on orflash the light 180 and/or play a warning sound from the sound generatorof a time before sending a command to the pre-installed barrier operator100 to move or close the barrier. In this way, unattended operation ofthe preinstalled barrier operator can be announced prior to the motionof the barrier.

The feature enhancement device 120 can also report on the status of thepreinstalled barrier operator 100. For example, the feature enhancementdevice 120 can monitor the door's position through communication withthe sensor 160 and knowledge of the commands given to the barrieroperator 120 and then notify a remote device via the Internet or throughlocal wireless communications of the present status of the barrier 105.In the case where a handheld transmitter 190 is directly paired with thepreinstalled operator 100 to move the barrier 105, the featureenhancement device 120 can still monitor the barrier 105 status throughcommunication with the door position sensor 160.

In this example, the feature enhancement device 120 is wired to theobstacle detectors 155 via a set of wires 157. The feature enhancementdevice 120 can monitor the obstacle detectors 155 to ensure that theyare functioning properly and feature enhancement device 120 can controlthe barrier operator 100 accordingly for combination of the commandinput 502 and the other obstruction input 504. The feature enhancementdevice 120 can also monitor the actions of the preinstalled operator 100via the sensor 160 to ensure that the operator is performing theintended function. If the barrier 105 is in motion in the downwarddirection and the feature enhancement device 120 detects a failure ofthe obstacle detector 155, the feature enhancement device 120 can forcethe operator 100 to reverse direction by shorting the obstruction input504. If that action is not followed, the feature enhancement device 120can give one or more commands via the command input 502 to perform thedesired function. In another example, FIG. 6 illustrates a system wherethe feature enhancement device 120 is completely wireless. In thissituation, the feature enhancement device 120 can be a module that plugsinto the wall somewhere near the garage, such as at a typical electricaloutlet. In this example, the preinstalled operator 100 includespreinstalled obstacle detectors 155 that are directly connected to andmonitored by the operator 100 via wires 510.

In the example of FIG. 6, the feature enhancement device 120communicates with a Wi-Fi router/modem 610, which is connected to theInternet using methods well known in the art. Feature enhancement device120 also communicates to the preinstalled barrier operator 100 bysending a radio transmission to activate the operator 100. A doorposition sensor 160 wirelessly communicates with the feature enhancementdevice 120. A handheld transmitter 110 communicates with the featureenhancement device 120 via wireless communication. A wall button 600communicates wirelessly with the feature enhancement device 120,although the wall button 600 aspect can be included within the device120. An original transmitter 190 is paired and communicates directlywith the preinstalled operator 100. Although not shown explicitly inthis figure, the feature enhancement device 120 is able to communicatedirectly and wirelessly with other computational devices to providedirect access for the computational device to effect activation of thepreinstalled operator 100 and obtain information regarding a status ofthe barrier 105. This example enables Internet activation of the barrieroperator 100 and marking of the barrier position allowing long-rangeoperation and monitoring of the preinstalled barrier operator.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, although the feature enhancement device isdescribed largely in the context of a garage in use with a garage dooropener, such a feature enhancement device can be applied in otherbarrier operator contexts, such as gate operators and the like.Moreover, any of the retro-fit features described herein can beincorporated into a movable barrier operator. For instance, the variouscapabilities described with respect to sensing vehicle presence orabsence, sensing forced entry, and the like can be triggered orcontrolled by a movable barrier operator incorporating the associatedfeatures of such a retro-fit device. Such modifications, alterations,and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of theinventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an input/output moduleconfigured to communicate with a computing device; a presence detectorconfigured to detect the presence of a vehicle; and control circuitrycommunicatively coupled to the input/output module and the presencedetector; the control circuitry configured to effect synchronization, inresponse to detection of the vehicle by the presence detector, betweenvehicle data stored by a storage device of the vehicle and computingdevice data stored by the computing device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the computing device is a server remote from at least one of thevehicle and the apparatus.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is configured to effect synchronization between thevehicle data and the computing device data by causing the input/outputmodule to communicate data between the computing device and the storagedevice of the vehicle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicledata includes media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicleoperation information, vehicle maintenance information, or combinationsthereof.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computing device dataincludes media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicle operationinformation, vehicle maintenance information, or a combination thereof.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the presence detector comprises apassive infrared detector, a photo beam system, a magnetic detector, acapacitance detector, a sound detector, a camera, or a combinationthereof.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the presence detectorcomprises a communication system configured to detect identificationinformation from a vehicle, a cell phone, or a combination thereof. 8.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is furtherconfigured to communicate with a barrier operator.
 9. A method ofoperating an apparatus comprising an input/output module configured tocommunicate with a computing device, a presence detector configured todetect a presence of a vehicle, and control circuitry operativelycoupled to the input/output module and the presence detector, the methodcomprising: detecting a presence of a vehicle by the presence detector;and effecting synchronization, in response to the detecting the presenceof the vehicle, between vehicle data stored by a storage device of thevehicle and computing device data stored by a computing device.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein effecting synchronization includes theinput/output module communicating data between the storage device of thevehicle and the computing device.
 11. The method of claim 9 whereineffecting synchronization includes transmitting a signal from theinput/output module to the computing device causing the computing deviceto synchronize data with the storage device of the vehicle.
 12. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the apparatus includes a barrier operatorcommunication module configured to communicate with a plurality ofbarrier operator types, the method further comprising: transmitting acontrol signal from the barrier operator communication module to abarrier operator to cause the barrier operator to move a movablebarrier.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting the controlsignal to the barrier operator is in response to detecting the presenceof the vehicle by the presence detector.
 14. The method of claim 9,wherein detecting the presence of the vehicle by the presence detectorincludes detecting the vehicle using: a passive infrared detector, aphoto beam system; a magnetic detector; a capacitance detector; a sounddetector; a camera, a communication system configured to detectidentification information from a vehicle; a communication systemconfigured to detect identification information from a cell phone; or acombination thereof.
 15. A system comprising: a barrier operator; and abarrier operator enhancement device comprising: a barrier operatorcommunication module configured to communicate with a plurality ofbarrier operator types that includes the barrier operator; aninput/output module configured to communicate with a computing device; apresence detector configured to detect a presence of a vehicle; andcontrol circuitry communicatively coupled to the barrier operatorcommunication module, the input/output module, and the presencedetector; the control circuitry configured to effect synchronization, inresponse to detection of the vehicle by the presence detector, betweenvehicle data stored by a storage device of a vehicle and computingdevice data stored by the computing device.
 16. The system of claim 15further comprising a gateway communication device configured to relaysignals between at least two of the barrier operator enhancement device,the computing device, and the vehicle.
 17. The system of claim 16wherein the gateway communication device is a wireless router.
 18. Thesystem of claim 15 wherein the computing device is configured tocommunicate with the vehicle via the barrier operator enhancementdevice.
 19. The system of claim 15 wherein the control circuitry isconfigured to effect synchronization between the vehicle data and thecomputing device data by causing synchronization of media files, mappingdata, navigation data, vehicle information, or a combination thereof.20. The system of claim 15 wherein the presence detector includes: apassive infrared detector, a photo beam system; a magnetic detector; acapacitance detector; a sound detector; a camera, a communication systemconfigured to detect identification information from a vehicle; acommunication system configured to detect identification informationfrom a cell phone; or a combination thereof